St. Albans — Police are searching the woods for a suspect who led multiple police agencies on high-speed chases this morning.

The suspect is Henry Murdoch IV, 45, of Dexter, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Murdoch, according to published reports, was indicted earlier this year by the Penobscot County grand jury on an arson charge in connection with a fire that destroyed his apartment house. The building was being taken by the town for nonpayment of taxes, according to the published reports.

He has been free on bail, but was reportedly found to be in violation of his bail conditions in Dexter.

Police radio logs indicate that the chase with Murdoch began in Dexter and then he was spotted in Somerset County this morning, shortly after 8 a.m., on Main Street in St. Albans. Somerset County police pursued a silver 1999 Chevy truck but couldn’t find it.

The truck was spotted again at 9:23 a.m. in Pittsfield, according to radio logs, and the chase ensued again with officers from multiple agencies joining the pursuit, which shifted back to St. Albans. Clinton police were directed to lay down spike mats on a portion of Route 100, according to scanner reports.

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McCausland said this afternoon that Murdoch remains at large and dozens of police and game wardens are searching for him in a remote wooded area. He fled into the woods along Devil’s Head Road.

Police described Murdoch as 5’10” tall, weighing 135 pounds with a full beard and wearing a blue-green flannel shirt.  

“He is being sought on bail violations and charges are also likely from the chases,” McCausland said. “Members of the State Police tactical team, game wardens and Somerset County deputies have been searching for Murdoch since mid-morning, after he lead a number of police agencies in a chase with his pickup truck that he abandoned along the dirt road.”
 
Police asked that anyone who encounts Murdoch to call 911 or Maine State Police in Augusta at 1-800-452-4664.

 


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